Once the snowflakes finally started falling, more than skis and snowboards got going in South Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Queen now plies the waters on weekly 90-minute apres-ski cruises with live entertainment and happy-hour-priced cocktails and appetizers; the 312-passenger paddle wheeler also offers longer "ski shuttle" itineraries and North Shore tours from the Hyatt. Landlubbers, meanwhile, can stick to Zephyr Cove's lake-view snowmobiling tours - as long as the snow sticks around.

-- Cellar cuisine: The 22 wineries in the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance pair plenty of savories and sweets - from artisanal sausages on sourdough to homemade brownies - with special tastings and discounts during the 16th annual Presidents' Wine Weekend. Admission includes a commemorative glass. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday, in and around Murphys. $10. (866) 806-9463, www.calaveraswines.org.

LATEST SFGATE VIDEOS

-- Back to the future: Palm Springs Modernism Week actually offers 11 days of time travel through the mid-20th century, experienced through architectural bus and walking tours (including the Sinatra House and vintage Airstream trailers), films, lectures and that quintessentially modern pastime, the cocktail party. Thursday through Feb. 26, in and around Palm Springs.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.